Update 7/28/16 – Castro-Correa was sentenced this week to a minimum of 30 months in state prison for shooting three people at a self-storage facility last September. The 15-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this month to four counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a minor. His sentence carries a maximum term of five years, according to the source.

July 28, 2016

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Teen Sentenced in Shooting at North Reading, PA, Self-Storage Facility

Update 7/28/16 – Castro-Correa was sentenced this week to a minimum of 30 months in state prison for shooting three people at a self-storage facility last September. The 15-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this month to four counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a minor. His sentence carries a maximum term of five years, according to the source.

In addition to prison, Castro-Correa was also sentenced to five years probation.

The teen admitted to firing multiple shots underneath a partially opened unit door. Although security video shows six males approaching the unit, no one else has been charged in the crime, the source reported.

1/28/16 – Castro-Correa was arraigned in Reading Central Court this week on attempted homicide and related charges in the Sept. 27 shooting at North Reading Storage. The teenager was apprehended by U.S. marshals on Jan. 21 at his grandmother’s house in Puerto Rico and then extradited to Berks County, Pa., deputy marshal Brian D. Hicks told the source.

A witness has identified the gunman as Castro-Correa, the source reported. The 15-year-old is being held in county prison in lieu of $1 million bail. He was reportedly born in Puerto Rico and staying with relatives in Humaco when he was captured.

Although five other males are believed to have taken part in the crime, no one else has been charged in the case.

12/21/15 – Police are searching for Santiago Castro-Correa, 15, suspected as the gunman in the Sept. 27 shooting of two people inside a unit at North Reading Storage. Security video obtained from the self-storage facility shows six males approaching the unit. A gunmen, who investigators believe was Castro-Correa, turned on the laser for his handgun, squatted and opened fire under the partially open unit door, according to the source.

Castro-Correa has been charged as an adult on attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, illegal possession of a firearm and other related counts. He had not been apprehended as of Dec. 18. No one else has been charged in the crime, the source reported.

During the hunt for Castro-Correa on Friday, police found a cache of drugs, including heroin, worth $470,000 inside an apartment. Investigators arrested Lazaro Suarez, 17, for possessing and intending to deliver narcotics and receiving stolen property in connection to a 9-millimeter pistol found during the search. Suarez told police he didn’t live in the apartment but knew Castro-Correa. Police searched the apartment to see if Castro-Correa was hiding but didn’t find him. It’s not clear if the apartment was the suspect’s residence.

In relation to the self-storage shooting, the two victims inside the unit have not been identified, although the woman shot in the leg was identified as the 28-year-old storage tenant. She had been using the unit as her residence for a few weeks, according to police. One of the occupants inside the unit managed to flee to a nearby fire station for help.

Prior to the shooting, a witness heard a conversation between six males at 9th and Perry Streets about going to the self-storage facility to speak with someone, according to court documents. The six males who approached the unit are believed to have entered the facility through the vehicle gate, the source reported.

9/29/15 – Two people were shot inside a self-storage unit at North Reading Storage in northeast Reading, Pa., on Sunday. Police believe the two victims, an unidentified man and woman, were living inside the unit and confronted by several trespassers who climbed the fence at 1220 N. 9th St. Investigators indicated a pedestrian struck by a stray bullet nearby may be a third victim connected to the case, according to the source. The self-storage facility is operated by Berks Storage.

A 20-year-old man had a graze wound to his neck, while the woman was shot in the leg. Two other people were visiting the unit at the time of the shooting, police told the source.

Investigators believe at least four people scaled the perimeter fence and knocked on the door of the storage unit. When the people inside opened the door, shots were fired by at least one of the trespassers, the source reported.

The possible third victim, a 21-year-old male, told police he was walking along North 9th Street when he was shot in the arm. He didn’t know where the bullet came from. "From the information we received, as [a gunman] was running away, he fired more shots and one of those shots could have gone out to 9th Street and shot this guy walking by," said Sgt. John M. Solecki.

Police found multiple shell casings at the scene but didn’t report a motive for the shooting as of Sept. 28.

The victims were taken to Reading Hospital, but no information on their medical conditions was reported.

Berks Storage operates three self-storage facilities in Reading as well as two parking garages.

Sources:

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